this is a quote from Teresa of Avilla. This blog is an attempt to understand the experience of such light on life.

land of rest

Land of Rest is a blog of Peter Jenks. Poems, quotes and photos are by Peter Jenks (unless otherwise noted or I miss noting an older post's photo) and are copyrighted, you are free to use these if you acknowledge their source.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Living Local

Living Local

There is much to be gained by knowing one’s farmer, knowing
where one’s food comes from. It is very rewarding to grow one’s own food in one’s
own garden and understand the cycle of growth and food. Supporting local
farmers, eating in food in season, learning to cook food from scratch and
understanding the range of ingredients and the importance of nutrition is vital
for our physical health.

Supporting local businesses keeps more jobs in the
community, as well as more money. It is always much more beneficial to support the local mom and pop shop, or local store
than the big box store which sends most of its profits out of state.

But living local is larger than where we shop. Living local means also going to local
concerts, shows and events and not just watching the downlink, or television
special. Supporting local musicians not only ensures that we have access to
local music, but it is much more direct and engaging for us to know and see the
people playing the music, and even better to join the song, and get out and
dance ourselves.

Living local also means supporting the local community,
being a part of the church, participating in town meetings, being a part of the
local P.T.A. or school board, voting in the local elections.

Living local means getting to know the people who live in
the neighboring houses and apartments. It means getting to know the local
youth, and the elderly who might need some assistance.

Living locally ultimately means living one’s life where one
lives, not in the virtual world, or vicariously through the media, or through
national and international issues, but in the world outside one’s window.

Living locally leads us even to ourselves, our own bodies
and minds – to go for a walk and get exercise and to take the initiative to
keep learning.